Waist band adjustment fob garments



Feb. 15, 1938.

H. E. MILLER 2,108,175

WAIST BAND ADJUSTMENT FOR GARMENTS Filed May 22, 1936 INVENT OR.

flak/ 6. f/7///6/ BY 0 6) mozm Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WAIST BAND ADJUSTMENT FOR GARMENTS Harry E. Miller, East Cleveland, Ohio Application May 22,

1 Claim.

This invention relates, as indicated, to a waistband adjustment for garments, but has reference more particularly to an adjustment of this character which is particularly adapted for use in the manufacture of mens trousers.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide novel and efficient means for adjusting the waistband while preserving the normal contact and avoiding the production of an unsightly gap between the top and bottom facings of the pocket.

A further object of means for adjusting the invention is to provide the waistband, without in any way ,mutilating the waistband or encumbering the same with unsightly appearing flaps, gussets and similar devices commonly employed for waistband adjustment.

To the,accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said inve ntion, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail one method constituting, however,

but one of various applications of my invention.

of the principle In said annexed drawingz- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a pair of trousers Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with a porand fly turned back; Figs.

tion of the waistband embodying the invention;

3, 4 and 5'are fragmentary cross-sectional views,

taken on the lines 33, 4-4 and 5-5, respectiv'ly of Fig. 1. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I and la represent the frgit and rear sections respectively of a pair forming a side seam of trousers, said sections S. The trousers have a sidepocket 3 having an entrance opening at said side'fseam', the seam terminating below the upper end of said opening to placke form a placket. The term is here used in its ordinary sense, be-

ing defined as a finished opening or slit from the top of a garment to facilitate putting it on and taking it off. The trousers also have a waistband 1 attached thereto, a portion of said waistband being attached to the front section of the ly shown in Fig. 3. The sides ofthe band 2 are extended,

front portion of the waistwithout break or seam, to

the point indicated by numeral 4, which is substantially beyond the opening. -The exten upper end 5 ofthe pocket sions 6, which are thus 1936, Serial No. 81,222

formed, are each provided with a buttonhole I, which engage any one of a series of three buttons 8, 9 and Ill. The buttons 8, 9 and I are secured to the'sides of the rear portion of the waistband 2 and are arranged in longitudinal alignment with such waistband. The purpose of these buttons is to permit adjustment of the waistband to a size both larger and smaller than the original draft of the waistband, by which expression is meant the size of waist for which the trousers are normally intended.

Secured to the lower edge of the extension 6, as by a. line of stitching H, is a piece I2, which extends from such lower edge to a point l3, which is somewhat below the upper end of the pocket opening. This piece is of substantially triangular shape, and its forward edge, which is substantially in alignment with the upper part of the pocket opening, is secured as by a line of stitching M, to the edge of the bottom facing l5 of the pocket. Above the point 5, the forward edge of the piece is stitched notonly to the bottom facing i5 of the pocket, but the top facing l6, as well. The rear edge I! of the piece I2 is curved, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The piece l2 thus forms a flap adapted to overlie the rear section of the trousers.

The "original draft is provided when the button 9 engages the buttonhole I, the button 9 being located midway between the buttons 8 and it). In this condition of the trousers, the top facing of the pocket will lie smoothly against the bottom facing thereof and the piece I! will lie smoothly against the area iii of the trouser, which it overlaps.

In adjusting the waistband to a smaller size than the original draft", the button ID will engage the buttonhole I, and in adjusting to a larger size, the button 8 will be caused to engage such buttonhole.

The rear portion of the waistband thus has a plurality of fastening means at the sides, and the extension of the front portion of the waistband has a single fastening means adapted'to selectively engage any one of the fastening means on the rear portion of the waistband to hold the parts together and to provide adjustability of the waistband and the garment. The fastening means, it will be noted, are exteriorly accessible, so that adjustments can be made quickly and easily.

The lower end l3 of the piece I! constitutes in effect a pivotal point about which the extension 6 and piece I! rotate during the aforesaid adjustments of the waistband, and due to the fact fact that the piece I2 is secured to the edge of the pocket 3, the aforesaid adjustments may be accomplished without disturbing the smooth contact between the top and bottom facings of the pocket and without producing unsightly gapsv or bulging in the vicinity of the pockets. Moreover, the employment of a piece of this character avoids mutilation of the waistband and avoids encumbering of the waistband proper with unsightly appearing flaps, gussets and similar devices commonly employed for waistband adjustment. The piece, furthermore, constitutes a reinforcement between the waistband and pocket and serves to preserve the life of the pockets.

Although the waistband extension and piece l2 have been described with reference to a pair of trousers provided with pockets, it is to be understood that these novel features may be embodied with advantage in other garments, such as skirts, shorts, pajamas, etc., having side open, ings instead of pockets.

Other forms may be employed embodying the features of my invention instead of the one here explained, change being made in the form of construction, provided the elements stated by the following claim or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by my preferred method or by other embodying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claim.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

A garment having front and rear sections to form a side seam, a side pocket with an entrance opening at said seam, said seam terminating'below the upper end of said opening to form a placket, a waistband attached to said garment having a portion attached to the front section thereof and outwardly overlapping another portion that is secured to said rear section, the overlapping portion forming an extension that extends beyond the upper end of said pocket opening, a substantially triangular piece secured to the lower edge of said extension and having one side secured to the edge of the bottom facing of said side pocket and to the garment above said pocket, forming a flap adapted to overlie the rear section of said garment; said rear portion of the waistband having a plurality of fastening means at the side and said extension of the front pormeans adapted to selectively engage any one of said first-named fastening means to hold the parts together and to provide adjustability of the waistband and the garment, said fastening means being exteriorly accessible.

HARRY E. LIILLER.

.tion of the waistband having a single fastening 

